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The American political party system began with Thomas Jefferson in the late 1700's. He started the first political party with the conviction that the federal government was assuming too much power over domestic policy and should be stopped. This agenda closely follows the platform of today's Republican party which believes less government control is better for American citizens.
Today's Republican Party began in 1854 when meetings were held in Wisconsin and six other states. The issue that formed these meetings was slavery in Kansas. The groups adopted the name "Republican" and denounced slavery as a social, moral and political evil and denounced the Fugitive Slave Law in effect at the time. The Republicans became a national party in 1856. John C. Fremont was nominated for President with a slogan that cashed in on his name - "Free soil, free labor, free speech, free men, Fremont."
Over the years the Republican Party has taken on the nickname of the "GOP" - Grand Old Party. Newspapers in the late 1800's can take the credit for this term of endearment. In 1875 the Congressional Record referred to "this gallant old party," and the Cincinnati Commercial made reference to the "Grand Old Party" in 1876.
By 1856 the first National Republican Convention assembled in Philadelphia. Their platform stated that Congress had the right to abolish slavery. John C. Fremont of California was the party's candidate for President. He was defeated but did win 114 electoral votes.
The second Republican National Convention nominated Abraham Lincoln for President. This convention was held in Chicago in 1860. Every four years since, the Republicans have met at a national convention and nominated candidates for the next president and vice-president of the United States. Between 1856 and 1968, seventeen Republican Presidential Candidates have been elected to office, including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, Calvin Collidge, Herbert Hoover, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.
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